Tigers one huge step closer to Andy Dirks' return, decision that comes with it

Detroit Tigers’ Andy Dirks (12) celebrates after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 5, 2013, in Houston. Dirks is set to begin a rehabilitation stint five months after back surgery in March, 2014.
PATRIC SCHNEIDER — The Associated Press file

DETROIT >> When Andy Dirks went down, as the first of the troika of contributors the Detroit Tigers lost in the span of 17 days in spring training, it seemed like the end of the world — or at least a severe impingement on the Tigers’ World Series hopes.

Five months after his back surgery, the Tigers are just about three weeks from welcoming Dirks back — and the tough decision that will create only underscores how well they filled in during his absence.

“We certainly knew we were losing a guy we were counting on. A couple of things happened that wouldn’t have happened that I guess are positive. Tyler Collins made the big-league roster, first time he’s ever done that — although he wasn’t here for a very long period of time. J.D. Martinez came out of this. And he’s done pretty well,” said first-year Tigers manager Brad Ausmus.

“It was certainly a blow that we got early, but as it seems all teams do, they find a way to at least temporarily fill the gap, until that player can come back. Now we’re on the verge of getting Dirksy back, and hopefully the rehab assignment goes without a hitch.”

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Dirks was set to begin his rehabilitation stint at Class A Lakeland on Tuesday, and will be eligible to return to the Tigers in 20 days, right before the non-waiver trade deadline at the end of the month.

Then, the next decision comes.

“We have roughly three weeks before a decision has to be made. A lot of things can happen between now and then,” Ausmus said. “If everything remains the same, we’re going to have a tough decision.”

Martinez replaced Collins as the team’s fourth outfielder and, arguably, has become the most important of the four here now, locking down the No. 5 spot in the order. Keeping all three of the other outfielders — Torii Hunter, Austin Jackson and Rajai Davis — might mean utilityman Don Kelly is the one to go.

But first, Dirks has to get through the rehabilitation process.

He’s been doing outfield drills in simulated games, but not in actual games. He’s been taking swings and batting practice, but now he’ll get a chance to do both, starting with three at-bats and five innings in the field with the Lakeland Flying Tigers. After the All-Star break, and once he’s deemed ready, he’ll move to Triple-A Toledo, before coming back to Detroit.

“I’m sure he needs the 20 days. Because he’s really almost starting from scratch,” Ausmus said. “That’ll be not even a full spring training schedule.”

Head trainer Kevin Rand concurred.

“He told me on the phone, ‘I’m ready now. I feel like I’m ready, just as I would be ready to start spring training.’ (As ready as normal) to start the competition in spring training. This is his spring training,” Rand said. “The most important thing is getting his at-bats, giving him as close to 20 games as we possibly can.”